I know I’m not the only one who coveted Power Wheels growing up. Those battery-powered Barbie cars or Jeeps were the ultimate toy and the kids who had them seemed so happy. Now there’s a ride-on car perfect for winter with the Zamboni from Kool Karz PlaygroundOpens in a new tab. In the video below, a young fan takes one for a ride on the ice for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s hockey rink. The kid-sized Zamboni retails for $349Opens in a new tab and is designed for kids ages three to eight and weighing up to 55 pounds. It comes too late for us adults, but we’re supposed to make a better world for our children, right? You’re welcome, little hockey fans.
We first learned about the Zamboni thanks to ESPNOpens in a new tab. The vehicle itself is blue and white but it comes with an NHL sticker set so young fans can customize it. The front compartment can hold toys, or maybe some snow if you actually put the rider to work. There’s headlights, a horn, and a music player to make all the other neighborhood kids jealous.
Kool Karz Playground also sells ride-on versions of ATVs and car that look like Audis, Jaguars, and other brands. Meanwhile, Mattel’s Power WheelsOpens in a new tab line is still going strong, with everything from a Jurassic Park JeepOpens in a new tab to the Barbie Dream Campervan.
Some people who still covet these cars from their childhood convert them into versions for adults rather than just buy them for their kids and live vicariously. For example, someone added a real engine to a Barbie Power WheelsOpens in a new tab to make it go 70 miles per hour. Someone else converted a real car into a full-sized Little TykesOpens in a new tab roadster and drives it around town. That’s one way to recapture a sense of childlike wonder.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star WarsologiesOpens in a new tab, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruthOpens in a new tab.
